We all have issues – issues with our weight, our significant others, our jobs and even our feet. More than just a funky shape or sore heels from the stilettos you braved last night, our feet can endure some pretty traumatic problems. Chances are you have experienced or will experience a common foot problem sometime in your life – four out of five adults do. Women and athletes are especially prone to foot problems due to the abuse of high heels and heavy or improper training. Plus: Is your hygiene heinous?

You may have never realized just how much we rely on our feet, but they’re what get us to places and what literally supports our bodies.

So when we experience foot pain or discomfort, it’s important to diagnose the problem and take the appropriate action.

Here are the most common foot problems and the ways to avoid and treat them so you can get back to total foot health.

Corns

Caused by friction from a continuous rubbing of the foot against the shoes, corns often occur as a result of the hammer toe condition where crooked toes don’t lie flat.

Corns aren’t very attractive because they look like a cone-shaped thickening with a point on the skin and can be extremely painful.

To reduce the pain, shoes can be padded with carefully-placed inserts, and in extreme cases, can be corrected with minor surgery.

Calluses are similar in appearance to corns but are caused when a foot bone bears too much weight or friction.

Calluses can also be helped with a carefully-placed insert or surgery that repositions the bones.

Bunions

Bunions can be caused by hereditary, injury, arthritis, or shoes that fit improperly, like our beloved high heels and pointy-toed shoes.

A bunion forms when the big toe continuously moves toward the small toe, causing a protruding bone, which fits poorly in shoes and can press against nerves.

To ease the discomfort, you can buy bunion-specific products like bunion bandages and bunion splints.

The only way to remove a bunion is to have bunion surgery, which usually has a relatively quick recovery time, of about 6 weeks or so, depending on the severity.

Nail IrregularitiesThe most common toenail irregularity is an ingrown nail, when the edge of the nail gets imbedded into the skin.

These can be caused by curved nails, improper trimming, shoe pressure and trauma to the area.

Not only do they interfere with a perfect pedicure, but ingrown nails can be quite painful and can become infected.

Depending on the amount of pain or severity, ingrown nails can be treated at home with Epsom salt or can be cared for by a foot specialist.

Other nail irregularities include thickened nails and fungal infections, which can often be successfully treated with anti-fungal ointments.

Heel PainHeel pain is so common because the largest bone in the foot is the heel bone, or calcaneus, and it’s the first area to hit the ground when walking.

Causes of heel pain include rheumatoid arthritis, tendonitis, and plantar fasciitis, an inflammation of the tissue that supports the arch of the foot, which usually occurs with the first steps in the morning.

Heel pain can be treated with a shoe insert, anti-inflammatory medications, stretching exercises, steroid injections and in the most extreme cases, surgery.

Morton’s NeuromaIf your shoes are too tight, you may be causing a pinched nerve called Morton’s Neuroma.

When bones are squeezed together, extra tissue can build up, causing pain, possibly in the toes.

Morton’s Neuroma can be treated with wider shoes, medications or shots of cortisone around the nerve.

Athlete’s FootAthlete’s aren’t the only people afflicted with this annoying foot problem, but they tend to share the fungi culprit with each other in locker rooms, swimming pools and showers.

Heavy perspiration in athletic shoes or cleats can also attract fungal infections.

To avoid feet fungi, always wear footwear in damp places, such as flip-flops in the shower, and wear airy shoes and clean socks.

Athlete’s Foot is very contagious but is easily treated with antifungal medications or oral antifungal drugs.

Nobody is 100% off the hook from experiencing these common foot problems simply because of the fact that we all have to walk to get to where we’re going and we also have to stay active to maintain good health.

However, using proper hygiene and wearing proper foot wear can lessen the likelihood of future foot problems.

If women especially paid as much attention to foot health as we do to pedicures and shoe style, we could all strut our stuff a little less painlessly.

Is Your Hygiene Heinous?When it comes to your hygiene habits, would those who know you praise your penchant for cleanliness or cry foul over your questionable ways? Good hygiene cannot be underestimated - your health, not to mention reputation, depends on it. Find out where your habits rank on the hygiene meter. Click here for our hygiene quiz.